Washington Commanders Acquire Former First-Round Pick

The Washington Commanders have signed veteran offensive tackle D.J. Humphries to a one-year contract, adding experienced depth after starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil suffered a torn triceps that will sideline him for most—if not all—of the 2026 season.

Humphries, 32, worked out for Washington on Tuesday and was officially announced as a Commander on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-5, 302-pound lineman arrives as a former first-round pick: Arizona selected him 24th overall out of Florida in the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent eight seasons with the Cardinals, starting 98 of the 101 games he played there and earning a Pro Bowl nod after the 2021 season.

Tunsil tore his triceps in an Aug. 8 practice while blocking a bull rush from edge rusher Odafe Oweh and later underwent surgery.

Coach Dan Quinn initially indicated the team would not look outside the organization for help, with third-year pro Brandon Coleman sliding from left guard to left tackle. Washington later reversed course, signing Humphries after releasing tackle Foster Sarell.

Humphries’ recent years have been less consistent. An ACL tear ended his 2023 season in Arizona. He later appeared in two games (two starts) for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 and eight games (one start) for the Los Angeles Rams in 2025.

Across 108 career games he has 101 starts, most of them at left tackle. He also played under former Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury during Kingsbury’s tenure as Cardinals head coach.

The addition gives Washington a proven veteran behind Coleman and alongside Andrew Wylie. Humphries is not the same player who was among the league’s better tackles five years ago, and availability has been an issue since his Pro Bowl year.

Still, 101 career starts provide a level of experience the Commanders lacked after Tunsil’s injury. If Coleman struggles or gets hurt, Humphries could step into a starting role and help protect quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Washington’s offensive line was already a point of concern heading into the season. Tunsil was the unit’s clear best player. Adding a former first-round tackle on a short-term deal is a low-risk move that addresses immediate depth needs as the team prepares for its preseason finale and the regular-season opener.

Humphries now becomes the latest veteran trying to recapture earlier form in a new city. For a Commanders team that reached the NFC Championship Game two seasons ago and is trying to stay competitive in a tough NFC East, even modest stability at left tackle could matter.

Whether he starts or serves as insurance, the signing shows Washington recognized it needed more than internal options after losing Tunsil.